Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written in the late fourteenth century. To this day, no one knows the name of the author of the poem. The poem was written in a dialect that is very hard to understand. Alliteration and rhyme are combined to create unique stanzas, called "Bob and Wheel." The term "Bob and Wheel" means that a poetic stanza has long alliterative lines; then, there is a two syllable line followed by a quatrain. The poem has several plots. One plot or theme is temptation. "The poem is a medieval comedy of manners told from a distinctly Christian viewpoint." In the lines from 366 to 443, the poem shows how Sir Gawain is chivalrous and brave. In this passage, there is action and symbolism that cause the characters' reactions.
In the beginning of the passage, not much action is going on. The Green Knight then rides into King Arthur's house on his horse. He gives a challenge to everybody in the hall. The king says that whoever cuts the Green Knight's head will be a brave person. Then Sir Gawain says that he will take the Green Knight's challenge. But, he wants to know the Green Knight's name. Sir Gawain says,"Nor I know you not, knight your name nor your court. But tell me truly thereof, and teach me your name (Norton 210,line400-401). The Green Knight, however, does not give his name to Sir Gawain. Instead, the Green Knight says Sir Gawain has a year to find out where the Green Knight lives. Once Sir Gawain discovers where the Green Knight lives, he will know his name. The Green Knight says, "If I tell you true, when I have taken your knock, and If you handily have hit, you shall hear straightway of my house and my home and my own name" (Norton 210 lines 406-408). At this point Sir Gawain does not know what to do. Sir Gawain asks the Green Knight for directions to his house. But the Green Knight will not give any clues to Sir Gawain, and he says, "That is enough in New Year, you need say no more" which means that after the year is through, Sir Gawain will know everything (Norton 210 line 404).
Before the contest starts, the Green Knight goes over the rules of the game again. He says that if he survives the hit from Gawain's ax, Gawain must search out where he lives so that he can take his hit from the Green Knight. When the Green Knight tells Gawain he must find the place where he lives, Gawain quickly asks, "What is the way there? Where do you dwell?" (398) The Green Knight refuses to tell, as this is part of the game. If the stranger survives Sir Gawain's blow from the ax, he will tell Gawain his name and the name of his dwelling.
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is a poem written by a poet (name unknown) approximately 6000 years ago in the late 1300's in the medieval times. This story was originally written in medieval literature with a real unique rhyme scheme, but was translated later in time to regular English for high school students and researchers to study and read.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – A Test of Chivalry Essay with Outline: Loyalty, courage, honor, purity, and courtesy are all attributes of a knight that displays chivalry. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is truly a story of the test of these attributes. In order to have a true test of these attributes, there must first be a knight worthy of being tested, meaning that the knight must possess chivalric attributes to begin with. Sir Gawain is admittedly not the best knight around. He says "I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest; / and the loss of my life [will] be the least of any" (Sir Gawain, l. 354-355).
In her story Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs presents what life was like living as a female slave during the 19th century. Born into slavery, she exhibits, to people living in the North who thought slaves were treated fairly and well, how living as a slave, especially as a female slave during that time, was a heinous and horrible experience. Perhaps even harder than it was if one had been a male slave, as female slaves had to deal with issues, such as unwanted sexual attention, sexual victimization and for some the suffering of being separated from their children. Harriet Jacobs shows that despite all of the hardship that she struggled with, having a cause to fight for, that is trying to get your children a better life
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The Green Knight begins to mock the court; and then boldly, King Arthur accepts his challenge. Sir Gawain realizes that this should not be the king’s responsibility for there are others present worthy of the challenge including him. Symbolically, this scene can be seen as a Christian standing up for what he believes in. Gawain says, “I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest;/ And the loss of my life would be least of any; (354-355). Here, Gawain humbles himself before his lord, just as a Christian should in prayer to God.
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In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain shows qualities of a chivalrous knight. He demonstrates that by showing generosity, courtesy, and loyalty during his travels. A mysterious knight shows up at the king’s castle and calls himself the Green Knight. The Green Knight then challenges one to play a game which he challenges the king to strike him with his axe if he will take a return hit in a year and a day. Sir Gawain steps forward to accept the challenge for his uncle King Arthur when nobody else in the castle would. He took the King’s role in the game to protect him from the Green Knight. He must learn to accept his responsibility as a knight, in accepting his fate.He demonstrates goodness at the hand of the Green Knight. He shows courage by accepting what is to come upon him during his voyage. His journey to find the Green Knight is filled with temptations.In the conversation with him and the “Lady”, Sir Gawain showed a Chivalrous code by keeping his loyalty to the king by not kissing his wife. The lady states “if I should exchange at my cho...